Pressure-operated actuating and relief valve



Feb. 2, 1954 J. H. HILLDALE PRESSURE-OPERATED ACTUATING AND RELIEF VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 22, 1948 Feb. 2, 1954 J. HILLDALE PRESSURE-OPERATED ACTUATING AND RELIEF VALVE Filed March 22, 1948 2 Sheets-Shet 2 i InvenTr-:

v .fihn H Hilidale by his flfibmeys W4 my Patented Feb. 2,

P1t13ssortii oriiRAT Abii A1135 RELIEF VALVE joh l hiladelphia; 41 5., assisnonito' Company, lhiladelphia, Pas,

a aertaiiat'itii off Pennsylvania 7 I Applieatibii March 22, 1948, sea-ma; 16,158

This invention relates to pressurev operatedlactuatin g deviceshich mav be usedin connection with pressure controlled containers such-as pressure cookers. More specifically, the invention relates to new and useful improvements'inautomatic pressure; cookers The principal' object of this invention is the provisionof an improved control actuating de vice, operated by the pressure Within-the cook'- ing vessel which also is adapted to maintain a predetermined pressure in thevessel' during a cooking operation, and to vent the pressure at theendof such operation.-

an automatic pressure, cooker of the type disclosed and; claimedin: the rcopending applipressure relief valve is shown by which the pres:

sure in an associated cookingves'sel is prevented from exceeding af predetermined amount bf? means of a springrloadedventing piston or p e This pressure relief valvei also serves to actuate" switching meansin the cooperative control device to reduce the heat supplied' to'thecooking vs sel and" to actuate aztinier whereby the cooking periodshallbe automatically:- terminal;ed; The valve also serves .to' vent" the" pressure at the end of the cooking period: v

While the multi -purpos'actuating and relief valve shown in the abovementioned application is generally/satisfactory, it has ce'rtain niindr' defectswhich' it is'de'sired'to'overcome; and furthermore" it'has been found-desirableto Dro vide a generallyimproved -structur'e" from" the standpoint of ease 'of manufacture and assembly;

Itis' a further object'of-thisinvention then, to provide a" multi 'purpose ematmgianw pres sure relief valve'havinsimple construction, ca pable of easy manufacture and assembly, and adapted to be operablev'fitl'ial' rniniinuniof parts.

A still furtherobjectis" the p"fo'vi'sitin of an ve'fited fromthecooking vessl atftheterminati orthe cooking perio'd and: to"dire ct it,

hasm-1 m wife unaefside os the ves'sei when;

with the air drawn into the collecting means by riser are;

s3 oia'iiiis'. (01. 137470) thevented steam jetyit cools the heating The collecting and directing meansrvvhich cop'endin'gapplication comprise 1 an opene funnel and a closed duct, are necessary where the venting orifice of the res ur reuer valve "3: locatedisorrfe distance from the surface of 11 lid .of the pressure vessel. It hasheendt'ef; mined that when the orifice frqrfi vvhi'ch sf afii" under pressure is vented islovvered to" the face of the lid or of the vesselafidtlie-or fic' is directed tangentially or thesurfaee'; the eigpaneling steam jet wnrfonow the-pointer oIf-the' vessel even to the extent of making" ri'g'ht' aiigli changes of directionif 'theco'rn'er around which the jet is .to blow rounded. It is a further objectof'thisinvention to D; vide venting" means, in connection vvitha p sure relief valve," which Will'dire'ct vented st along the surface of a pressure vessel s6 as to cause the jet to remain clo'se thereto; v The degree of boiling which dc cujrs a'presfg sure cooking vessel" will frequently raise sfzxgalli r .aiana food particles to the level "of the vent" v deposit them in'thestearn conduc'tin the venting means; In previous" pressure co'o the cloggingo'f thestea'ni passages Wouldjrendef' the venting and pressure re1ievmg'means "n erative, with the'result that excessive would be produced in thev''s'sel'. 1 Anot of this invention is the provision of a of strainer which'shall" prev tth'e' dep w of food particles in" thelste'a'in j c pneuen'ne passages of the pressure venting'valve;

Other objects and featiirs of the in U Will be apparent from thefollovrin'gdetailed 'd 4 scription".

, t p sociation"Withcontrolapparatus of the character shown in the above-mentioned applicatiori; Fig; Z'Jisafragmefitary sectional vi'wtaiin along liner-resist Q1;- Fig. s is enlarged vertical sectional' vivW of'the'va'lv'e device; i

disp s fthe vaii e e i it 'of t when substantial I pressure 'exis'ts the vessel and Fig 5'isa" rspective-viewer the iittdrn pit? sure'cookenl in control device 2 of the character disclosed in I, W r cooperative association with a" the above-mentioned application. The general construction of the pressure cooker may be similar to that disclosed in the copending application of C. R. Turner, Serial No. 672,363, filed May 27, 1946, now Patent Number 2,570,993, issued October 9, 1951. The pressure cooker is provided with an actuating and pressure relief valve 3 which, in accordance with the present invention, is constructed and functions as hereinafter described.

The construction of the valve 3 is clearly shown in Fig. 3. A cover plate 4, having an opening 5 in which a relatively strong internal snap ring 6 is located, is positioned over an opening 7 in the lid 8 of the pressure cooker i. Inserted through the opening 7, and retained therein. by

the engagement of the snap spring in a groove 9, is a valve body 10. A sealing gasket ll, of rubber or suitable compressible material, provides the seal for the opening I of the lid. The valve body comprises an upper section l2 having an upper bore 13, a central section 14 having a central bore I5, and a lower section It having a shoulder I1 and an internal threaded portion l8. The upper bore I3 and central bore l5 are in communication at [9. A lower plug 20 (see Fig. 5) is assembled with the valve stem 2|, the piston plate 22 and the lower valve seat plate 24. A hole 25 in the plug, having a guide portion 26, is passed over the lower part 27 of the valve stem 2| after the piston plate 22 and lower valve seat plate are placed in the relationshown. By means of suitable upsetting tools, an upset portion 28 is made in the lower end of the valve stem such that it securely assembles the plug, valve stem, plate and piston together. By threaded insertion of the plug into the internal threaded section l8 of the valve body, the plate 24 is seated securely on the shoulder 29 of the valve body.

The depth of the threaded portion of the plug 20 is so determined that when the plug is threaded into the valve body to its maximum depth, there will be left between the lower shoulder 54 of the plug and the bottom of the valve body a narrow peripheral slot. This narrow slot in this embodiment, about .015 inch, provides a large total area for the passage of steam but will exclude all of the food particles of any objectionable size from the steam cylinder spaces. Thus the closely spaced surfaces forming the narrow slot constitute a strainer.

When no elevated pressure exists in the vessel I, the elements assume gravitationally the positions shown in Fig. 3. In the upper section of the valve body there are a plurality of venting holes 3!! in communication with the upper bore.

A cut-out 3| in the cover plate 4 provides communication to the atmosphere from the interior of the valve. It should be noted that the lower boundary of the opening 3| is the top of the lid of the cooking vessel. The cover plate is held securely against the lid by the resiliency of the gasket II.

The lower valve seat plate 24, which is of circular shape, is held as mentioned, against the shoulder 29 by the top surface of the plug 29. A circular opening 32, appreciably larger than the diameter of the lower part 2'! of the valve stem, is provided in the plate 24. The opening 32 is in communication with the interior of the cooking vessel by virtue of the formation of plug 20 as shown in Fig. 5. The piston plate 22 comprises a disk and central bossings 33 on either surface of the disk adapted to seat on and seal the openings 32 and [9. The central aperture 34 of the .4 piston plate provides a further sealing seat for the conical shoulder 35 of the valve stem 2i.

The opening 3| of the cover 4 is defined on its lower side, by the top of the lid 8 of the cooker l. The lid is held, as described in the copending application Serial No. 674,707 of C. R. Turner, filed June 6, 1946, now Patent Number 2,619,982, issued December 2, 1952, against a peripheral lip 36 of the vessel l. A gasket 37 is held on the flanged section 38 of the lid. A small under-cut 39 is made in the flanged section 38 to accommodate the gasket, which is slightly shorter in inner circumferential length than the distance around the lid at the under-cut 39. This permits the gasket, which may be of rubber or suitable synthetic material to be stretched and held in position by its own resiliency. The edge contour 40 of the vessel l is rounded, with a suitable radius, preferably not less than A.

Leferring again to Fig. 1, as previously stated the control device 2 is-of the general character disclosed in the above-mentioned Turner et al. application. For the present purpose, the following brief description of the device 2 will suffice.

A lever arm 4i actuated by the valve stem 2|, controls circuit establishing switches (not visible) to vary the energization' of the heating unit 42 and to initiate a timed cycle. At the end of said cycle, the arm 4i is caused to exert additional downward pressure on the valve stem to cause the pressure in the cooker to be vented. The control mechanism, with which we are not here concerned, is encased within the vertical column 43. Such mechanism is manually controllable, as regards the time duration of the cooking cycle, by means of the rotatable knob 44 and shaft 45..

In the device of the above-mentioned Turner et al. application, the steam from the pressure cooker is vented downward through a passage in the vertical column to the bottom of the cookervessel and the heating unit. In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the column 43 which is composed of a front section 46 (see Fig. 2) and a back section 41, is provided with a vertical recess '48.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the column is shaped to closely fit the vessel I except at said recess. Thus the recess and the vessel form a passage. The front section 46 also has a flange 49 (Fig. 1) which projects beyond the edge of the vessel and forms, with the lid, a passage for steam vented from the valve 3. The vertical passage leads to an outlet passage 5t which extends to the circular recess 5! in the base wherein the heating means is disposed. The recess 51 is formed in the upper member 52 of the base by stamping in a suitable forming die. The heating elements are located so that the plane of the bottom of the vessel is slightly above that of the top of the member 52.

The operation of this pressure cooking device is, in all respects, similar to that of the abovementioned Turner et a1. application.

As the vessel I is placed on the heating means 42, the valve stem 2! is aligned with the lever 4| of the controls. The lever exerts a measureddownward force on the valve stem by means of certain springs, not here shown. As the pressure builds up initially in, the cooker under the heat from the heating means, that pressure is transmitted and applied to the piston plate 22 (Fig. 3) at the lower bossing 33. The communication from the interior of the cooking vessel to the piston plate is through the slot 53, past the cut-away sections of the-threaded plug 20 to the or ificeuin' the plate 24. As is shown in Fig. 3, the valve stem 2i rests on the piston" plate 122. "The diam:- eter of the orifice of the plate 2'4 is so'chosen with respect to the combined weight of the valve stem and piston plate and the measured downward force on the stem by the lever 4| so as to permit the raising of those two members from seating relationship on the plate 24 as theipressure in the vessel reaches a predetermined amount. this seal is broken, the pressure from the interior of the cooker is applied on the lower surface of the piston plate which is of substantially greater area than the orifice in the plate 24. This sudden increase in vertically applied force immediately lifts the piston and valve stem to the position shown in Fig. 4, the valvestem being in the dotted line position. The upward movement of the valve stem causes actuation of the control lever 4'! as above mentioned. :In this position the upper boss of the piston plate 22 sealingly seats on the opening it of the upper valve body. The weight of the valve stem 2| andthe downward force thereon, considered with the diameter of the opening 34 in the piston plate 22, are ample to retain the valve stem in sealing relationship on the piston plate at 35.

In the event of a pressure in the ,pressure've'ssel which exceeds a second predetermined amount, the valve stem will lift to the full line position of Fig. 4. This will prevent pressure in'the vessel from exceeding the second predetermined value. The lifting of the valve stem from the piston plate permits steam to flow through the hole E l, out the openings 30 in the upper valve .body and through the vent opening 3|.

At the end of the timed cooking period, the lever arm 5! is forced downward against the top of the valve stem 21. The consequent downward motion of the valve stem causes like motion of the piston plate 22, by virtue of the tapered section 35 of the valve stem. The distance of downward motion is such that the seal of the piston plate at 19 is broken but not enough to seal the plate on the opening in plate 2-4. Thus the .pressure is permitted to escape from the vessel, around the piston plate, through the openings 36 and 3! at substantially the constant optimum rate.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the opening 31 is at the surface of the lid of the vessel. As steam is vented from the cooker vessel it jets from the opening 3! tangentiallyto the surface of the lid. The internal static pressure in the jet, at high pressures in the vessel, is such that the jet will follow moderate changes of surface along which it is streaming. This principle, .first propounded by Bernoulli, is well known in hydrodynamics and to those skilled in the arts of aerodynamics. The steam jet will follow around the rounded edge 49 of the vessel and will be directed downward in the channel -43 to the'outlet passage 50 beneath the vessel. As disclosed in the abovementioned Turner -et al. application, this vented steam, when impinged on the heating elements d2, aids in cooling them, which in turn accelerates the cooling of the vessel.

From the foregoing description it willbe seen that the present invention has provided a-multipurpose device which is simple in construction and may be easily manufactured and assembled, and which is free of any spring or other elements which tend togetout'of adjustment.

It also will be seen that there is .provided "a device which may be easily disassembled .for

cleaning by a housewife" and which husail the componentssecured together in a. astomake improperre-assemblyimpossibla. Further, it will be seen that theedisassembly pct the valve parts also exposes the straining suntacesso that the elements of the pressure retaining. and. venting valve and the associated strainer be cleaned together. Thus by merely backing out the plug 2 0, it is possible to remove the assembly comprising the plug, plate 24., piston plate 2-2 and valve stem 21, and yet "the elements of said assemblyare heldloosely together.

The term {pressure source as used in the claims is intended to be limited. to a pressure cooker of the general type hereinbefore. described. The valve device provided by this zine vention and defined in the claims is a special purpose device tor the performance of functions inherent in a pressure eooking aoj'peration.

While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto but contemplates such. modifications as may occu-rto those skilledin the-art.

I-cla-im:

1. In a pressure venting valve device for use with a pressure source -of the character described, a casing structure having inlet and outlet ports and having an inlet end portion of substantial peripheral dimension, a plug removably attached to said structure and forming therewith .a narrow passage at said end portion extending inwardly from the entire "periphery thereof to the inlet port for introducing pressurepfisaid source to the interior of said structure, :and pressureoperable movable valve means within said :structure movable between said ports and operable by pressure introduced through said narrow passage.

2. In a pressure venting valve device for use with a pressure source, a valve body adapted to be secured to .a supporting membensaid :bodyadefining a valve chamber in communication with said source and .having a .port :in communication with the atmosphere, pressure operable movable valve means in said chamber adapted to seal and unseal said port in response to predetermined pressures of said source, and a member loose connected to said valve means 'and detacha'bly secured to said body and forming withthe latter a narrow filter passage through which :said chamber is in communication with :said source.

3. In a pressure venting valve device .for use with a pressure source, a valve body adapted to be secured to a supporting member, saidbody defining a valve chamber in communication with the atmosphere, an apertured pistonzplateztreely movable in said chamber, a valve stem extending withinsaid chamber through the'aper ture in said plate, said piston plate andsaid valve stem :serving cooperatively to seal and ".unseal :said .port response to predetermined pressures -=of said. source, and aplug loosely connected to said valve stem and threadedly secured to said body, said plug and said body having closely-spaced surfaces forming a narrow :fi-lter passage through which said chamber is in communication with said source.

4. In a pressure venting valve device for use with a pressure source, said device including a centrally disposed chamber in icommunication with said sourcaaazport in said chamber in eommunication with "the atmosphere, movable members in said chamberadapted to seal and unseal said .port on attainment of predetermined pressures 0f said :sourcc, a strainer momprisin'g :two

7. closely-spaced surfaces having a narrow peripheral opening, and means near the center of said surfaces for communicating pressure from said source through said opening to said members within said chamber.

5. A valve device for use on a pressure vessel to signal attainment of a predetermined pressure therein and to vent excess pressure and also to efiect substantially full venting of the pressure, said device comprising a chamber having a pressure inlet port of substantially smaller area than the transverse area' of said chamber and a pressure outlet port in communication with the atmosphere, a plate in said chamber movable between said ports and engageable therewith, said plate being only slightly smaller in periphery than the transverse area of said chamber to provide a small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of the chamber, said plate having an aperture therein of smaller area than said inlet port whereby a relatively small area of the plate is exposed to pressure when the plate is engaged with said inlet port, and a movable element in said chamber normally closing said aperture and cooperative with said plate initially to close said inlet port, said element extending externally of said chamber for subjection to an external force, whereby increase of pressure to a value determined by said force first causes slight movement of said plate and said element with consequent exposure of the entire relatively large area of said plate to the pressure, whereupon said plate and said element are instantaneously moved to a position to seal said outlet port without appreciable loss of pressure about the periphery of the plate, said element being further actuated by excess pressure to uncover said aperture and thus vent the excess pressure through said outlet port, said plate being movable away from said outlet port by said element upon increase of said external force to vent the pressure through the small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of said chamber.

6. A valve device for use on a pressure vessel to signal attainment of a predetermined pressure therein and to vent excess pressure and also to eifect substantially full venting of the pressure, said devicecomprising a chamber having a pressure inlet port of substantially smaller area than the transverse area of said chamber and a pressure outlet port in communication with the atmosphere, a plate in said chamber movable between said. ports and engageable therewith, said plate being only slightly smaller in periphery than the transverse area of said chamber to provide a small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall or the chamber, said plate having an aperture therein of smaller area than said inlet port whereby a relatively small area of the plate is exposed to pressure when the plate is engaged with said inlet port, and a movable element in said chamber extending through said aperture and through said inlet port and having a portion normally closing said aperture and cooperative with said plate initially to close said inlet port, said element extending externally of said chamber for subjection to an external force, whereby increase of pressure to a value determined by said force first causes slight movement of said plate and said element with'consequent exposure of the entire relatively large area of said plate to the pressure, whereupon said plate and said element are instantaneously moved to aposition to seal said outlet port without appreciable loss of pressure about the periphery of the plate, said element being further actuated by excess pressure to uncover said aperture and thus vent the excess pressure through said outlet port,

said plate being movable away from said outlet port by said element upon increase of said exter-.

nal force to vent the pressure through the small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of said chamber.

'7. A valve device for use on a pressure vessel to signal attainment of a predetermined pressure therein and to vent'excess pressure and also to effect substantially full venting of the pressure, said device comprising a chamber having a pressure inlet port of substantially smaller area than the transverse area of said chamber and a pressure outlet port in communication with the atmosphere, a plate in said chamber movable between said ports and engageable therewith, said plate being only slightly smaller in periphery than the transverse area of said chamber to provide a small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of the chamber, said plate having an aperture therein of smaller area than said inlet port whereby a relatively small area of the plate is exposed to pressure when the plate is engaged with said inlet port, and a movable stem in said chamber normally closing said aperture and cooperative with said plate initially to close said inlet port, said stem extending externally of said chamber for subjection to an external force, whereby increase of pressure to a value determined by said force first causes slight movement of said plate and said stem with consequent exposure of the entire relatively large area of said plate to the pressure, whereupon said plate and said stem are instantaneously moved to a position to seal said outlet port without appreciable loss of pressure about the periphery of the plate, said stem being further actuated by excess pressure to uncover said aperture and thus vent the excess pressure through said outlet port, said plate being movable away from said outlet port by said stem upon increase of said external force to vent the pressure through the small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of said chamber. a

8. A valve device for use on a pressure vessel to signal attainment of a predetermined pressure therein and to vent excess pressure and also to effect substantially full venting of the pressure, said device comprising a chamber having a pressure inlet port of substantially smaller area than the transverse area of said chamber and a pressure outlet port in communication with the atmosphere, a plate in said chamber movable between said ports and engageable therewith, said plate being only slightly smaller in periphery than the transverse area of said chamber to provide a smal1 space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of the chamber, said plate having an aperture therein of smaller area than said inlet port whereby a relatively small area of the plate is exposed to pressure when the plate is engaged with said inlet port, and a movable stem in said chamber extending through said aperture and through said inlet port and having a portion normally closing said aperture and cooperative with said plate initially to close said inlet port, said stem extending externally of said chamber for subjection to an external force, whereby increase of pressure to a value determined by said force first causes slight movement of said plate and said stem with consequent exposure of the entirerelatively large area of said plate to the pressure, whereupon said plate and said stem are instantaneously moved to a position to seal said outlet port without appreciable loss of pressure about the periphery of the plate, said stem being further actuated by excess pressure to uncover said aperture and thus vent the excess pressure through said outlet port, said plate being movable away from said outlet port by said stem upon increase of said external force to vent the pressure through the small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of said chamber.

9. A valve device for use on a pressure vessel to signal attainment of a predetermined pressure therein and to vent excess pressure and also to effect substantially full venting of the pressure, said device comprising a chamber having a pressure inlet port of substantially smaller area than the transverse area of said chamber and a pressure outlet port in communication with the atmosphere, said chamber being formed in part by a removable member in which said inlet port is provided, a plug removably securing said memher in place, a plate in said chamber movable between said ports and engageable therewith, said plate being only slightly smaller in periphery than the transverse area of said chamber to provide a small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of the chamber, said plate having an aperture therein of smaller area than said inlet port whereby a relatively small area of the plate is exposed to pressure when the plate is engaged with said inlet port, and a movable stem in said chamber extending through said aperture and said inlet port and loosely connected to said plug, the latter permitting limited movement of the stem, said stem having a shouldernormally closing said aperture and cooperative with said plate initially to close said inlet port, said stem extending externally of "said chamber for subjection to an external force,

wherebyincrease of pressureto a value determined by said force first causes slight movement of said plate and said stem with consequent exposure of the entire relatively large area of said plate to the pressure, whereupon said plate and said stern are instantaneously moved to a position to seal said outlet port without appreciable loss of pressure about the periphery of the plate, said stem being further actuated by excess pressure to uncover said aperture and thus vent the excess pressure through said outlet port, said plate being movable away from said outlet port by said stem upon increase of Said external force to vent the pressure through the small space between the periphery of said plate and the inner wall of said chamber.

JOHN H. HILLDALE.

Number Name Date 832,274 Probst Oct. 2, 1906 1,319,112 Raines Oct. 12, 1919 1,638,589 Louw Aug. 9, 1926 1,799,998 Zwicky Apr. 7, 1931 1,847,068 Campbell Mar. 1, 1932 1,890,870 Tokheim Dec. 13, 1932 1,935,108 Brooks Nov. 14, 1933 1,935,815 Piro Nov. 21, 1933 2,200,903 Stephens May 14, 1940 2,241,137 Jonas May 6, 1941 2,349,137 Brown May 16, 1944 2,422,237 Hansen June 17, 1947 2,428,483 Wittenberg Oct. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 515,231 Great Britain of 1939 

